Award Nomination for Fred’s Tiny Houses

When Fred Schultz of Fred’s Tiny Houses heard about his company’s nomination in the Aim2Flourish awards he was over the moon. “We felt that we were doing something unique and genuine with our tiny houses”, he said “but it’s great to get that external recognition”.

The Aim2 Flourish awards celebrate positive business innovations around the world. These include a huge range of business initiatives; from selling low cost solar lights in urban slums to promoting gender equality in one of the world’s largest companies.

“It’s a chance to celebrate positive business innovations,” said Ms. Megan Buchter from Aim2Flourish. “The news today has such a negative view of business – that it’s only focused on profits. We want to flip this story on its head and tell the stories of businesses that are doing good for the world and still doing well financially.”

The awards encourage business students from around the world to reach out and discover businesses which inspire them.
For Vladimir Slaviero, Business student at Monash University, Fred’s Tiny Houses stood out as a business which ticked boxes both in terms of sustainability and finances.

“We’re all invested in sustainability today. You only get one planet!” he said, “Fred’s Tiny Houses make housing which is not only affordable but they emit close to zero ongoing carbon emissions in their tiny house design. But as well, they are designed specifically for the Australian climate.”

“Many Australian tiny house builders have copied American strategies to keep heat in a dwelling,” he said “but for the Australian climate Fred is the first to switch the focus to moving heat out of a tiny house. There’s no hope of living sustainably if you have to use large amounts of energy to cool down your house!” he said.

The awards are aligned with the 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which include aims such as affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, and climate action, all of which Fred’s Tiny Houses have been recognised for.

“Aligning with these goals allows students to look through a strong lens and assess how companies of any size can do to help solve the world’s major problems,” said Ms Buchter. “Many times change starts small and locally and grows into something much bigger as the company scales up or other communities or entrepreneurs are inspired to replicate the innovation,” she said.

For Fred Schultz recognition like this is humbling – but pleasing! “I’m a just a guy running a small family business,” he said “but it’s lovely to feel connected to something global and positive, and to think that in some small way we’re making a difference.”

All of the nominees are listed on the Aim2Flourish website – www.aim2flourish.com. The prizes for the 2018 nominees will be announced in May 2019.

AIM2Flourish is a program based out of the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.